Two men accused of arranging a fire at a rival precious metals buying business in Lehigh County are now facing trial on arson and related charges.
Stefan Skweir, 42, of Northampton Borough, and John Stettner, 54, of Slatington, were charged in September in connection with a 2011 fire at AD Gold Exchange, which was located at that time off Route 309 in North Whitehall Township.
The business has since moved to Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township, and also has a location on Airport Road.
Following a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, all charges against the pair were sent to Lehigh County Court, where they now face trial.
Skweir is free on $100,000 bail, and Stettner is free on 10 percent of $50,000 bail.
Attorneys for both men sought to have the charges dismissed on Tuesday, after it was revealed a required piece of paperwork was missing from the criminal complaint.
The sheet where a district judge signs off on the charges was gone, and attorneys Gavin Holihan and John Waldron both argued it was required in order for the criminal case to proceed. Prosecutors filed the criminal charges on the last day of the statute of limitations and, if the charges were dismissed on Tuesday, prosecutors could not refile them.
District Judge Patricia Engler had a new form printed, it was signed and the preliminary hearing went forward. Holihan, who represents Skweir, and Waldron, who represents Stettner, both said they will raise the issue in common pleas court.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Craig Scheetz refused to say what led prosecutors to charge the pair five years after the blaze damaged AD Gold Exchange.
Skweir owns ANS Coins, which was up the road from AD Gold Exchange, and Stettner worked “on and off” at Skweir’s shop, witnesses testified.
Bonnie Jurta, an AD Gold Exchange employee, testified Skweir harassed her and owner Alan Dennis before the North Whitehall location opened up.
Skweir emailed the pair that they “better not open up there,” Jurta testified, and their landlord caught Skweir on the property.
What followed were harassing phone calls, both to the pair and calls to law enforcement complaining about the business, Jurta said. It escalated to Skweir driving slowly past the business and calling Jurta expletives, she testified.
“We had a lot of issues,” said Jurta, who was dating Dennis at the time and is now engaged to him. “I was scared…I was concerned for my well being.”
Jurta said in the early morning of Sept. 14, 2011, Dennis got a call from the business’ alarm company. The pair thought it could be burglars, and told the alarm company to call the police.
Dennis went to the shop, and called Jurta to say the business was in flames, she testified. Fire crews were able to put the fire out, but the business sustained fire and smoke damage.
Pennsylvania State Police found a smashed front window and a large rock inside the business, as well as a gas can.
Troopers also found a shoe print and a handprint on a window, but were unable to match that to a possible suspect.
Scheetz said prosecutors learned Stettner gave Skweir the names of two people who could do some “damage” at AD Gold Exchange, and Skweir paid someone to set the blaze.
Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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